Notes: Thanks to the lovely readers who left reviews on the latest chapter of this story. You guys are the best! :)

Disclaimer: I own nothing except my own obsession wth Supernatural.

Trigger warnings: Mention of past prostitution. Age difference between Cas and Dean.

Dean walks back into the kitchen to find Castiel where he left him, standing at the stove, finishing the meal Dean had been helping him prepare until Castiel had sent him upstairs.

Cas glances up at Dean from the pan on the stove in front of him. "Is Gavin staying for dinner, Dean?"

Dean leans a hip against the counter a foot or so from where Cas is standing and crosses his arms over his chest. "No, he is not."

Cas frowns at him. "You did invite him, didn't you?"

Dean smirks. "I'm offended by your lack of faith in me. Of course, I invited him. Just like you asked me to."

"What did he say?"

"He asked what we're having." Dean contorts his face in disgusted disapproval. "Who does that? I mean, seriously."

Cas looks thoughtful. "Maybe he has food allergies and he needed to make sure he could eat what we are serving. Did you ask if he has food allergies, Dean?"

"I did not." Dean says. "I just told him we were serving boiled liver and onions, and left it at that."

That earns him another look from Castiel.

Dean grins. "I told him you were making garlic butter chicken, garlic lemon millet, stir-fried asparagus, kale salad, and sweet potato wedges. I managed to remember all of it even though that's like thirty-five more dishes than we usually have for dinner."

"It is a lot, but I just wanted to make sure there would be something Gavin likes." Castiel pauses. "Sam has had dinner at Gavin's house three times this month. I wanted us to be able to return the favor." Cas scans the food on the stove, the pot of millet, the pan of asparagus, and the baking dishes of chicken and potato wedges that he's just removed from the oven, along with the kale salad in a serving bowl on the counter, his expression thoughtful. "I wonder what part of this was unappealing to him….."

Dean feigns deep thought. "Huh. There is a lot of garlic on the menu. Maybe the kid's a vampire."

"That isn't helpful." Cas tells him.

Dean shrugs. "Then he probably just hates kale like everyone else on the planet."

Castiel sighs. "Maybe I should have Sam find out what Gavin likes to eat before his next visit."

"Cas, we don't need to cater to this kid's palette." Dean says. "If he doesn't want to stay for dinner, he doesn't want to stay." Dean shrugs again. "I'm not going to worry about it, and you shouldn't either."

Cas frowns. When he speaks again it's with a voice lowered to a stern whisper. "Dean, Gavin is Sam's closest friend at school. We need to be supportive of their relationship and that includes making Gavin feel comfortable when he's in our home." Cas narrows his eyes at Dean. "We barely know this boy. Do you honestly dislike him just because his parents gave him a Range Rover for his birthday?"

"Um, no." Dean lowers his voice to match his boyfriend's. "That's not it at all, smarty-pants. Did you ever stop to think that maybe it's all the dirty looks you give me when he's here?"

"No, Dean." Cas says seriously. "I haven't considered that theory since my dirty looks, as you call them, generally follow your comments about Gavin rather than precede them. I don't believe they could be the cause of your dislike."

Dean smiles in amusement. "And, it's not that his family has money, ok?" Dean whispers. "I'm not that petty and immature, thank you very much." Dean laughs quietly. "If I got bugged by everyone with more money than me, I wouldn't like anyone, including you. It's that smug look that's always on his face. Like he thinks he's better than everyone, or maybe just better than me. And, when I went upstairs just now, he couldn't even be bothered to look up from his phone when I started talking to him. Like I'm not worth his full attention." Dean considers Gavin's behavior for a moment. "I really hope Sam has better manners than that when he's in other people's homes."

"I'm sure he does." Castiel says. "Sam is a very respectful child."

"He didn't look up until after I told him what we were having, and he only looked up then to make sure I didn't miss the very unimpressed look on his smug little face when he told me thanks but he was going to have to pass. Going to have to pass. Seriously? Who fucking talks like that?"

"Dean." There's a firmness in Castiel's voice, even as a whisper. "Gavin is a child. One that Sam is particularly fond of. You do not need to like him. But, you need to get over your issues so that he feels welcome in our home, instead of judged. I don't want us to do anything to negatively impact this friendship for Sam. Do you understand me, Dean?"

Dean leans forward and plants a chaste kiss on Cas's lips, smirking slightly as he pulls back. "Yes, Cas."

Castiel picks up a spatula and the sweet potato wedges and starts loosening them from the baking dish and setting them in on a serving plate.

"You know, Dean." Dean watches the playful smile form on Cas's face even as the man innocently goes about what he's doing. "Some people might say that you also have a smug little face." Dean barks out a laugh, and Cas glances toward him, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Not me, of course, sweetheart, but some people, especially those who might not know you very well."

"Thanks for that, Cas." Dean hears footsteps on the stairs, then the sounds of Sam and Gavin talking at the front door.

"My point is just that instead of judging him harshly, we should give this child the benefit of the doubt. He may have been raised with different manners than we're accustomed to, but that doesn't make him bad."

Dean takes the loaded serving dish from Cas. "I'll do my best, but I promise nothing."

"Your best is all I ask, my love." Cas raises a hand to cup the side of Dean's face and leans in for a slow kiss.

Dean hears the rubbery screech of Sam's sneakers on the kitchen floor as the boy comes to an abrupt stop in the doorway behind them.

Cas releases Dean's face and pulls back from the kiss first, but Dean notes with satisfaction that Cas doesn't do it with the same kind of urgency he once would have, as if he's finally realized that Sam witnessing the tail end of a kiss isn't going to scar the kid for life. When Dean turns toward Sam, his brother doesn't look as apologetic or uncomfortable as he once would have, either.

Instead Sam grins and pats Dean on the arm as he walks past them toward the sink to wash his hands for dinner. "Is this what Gavin would have walked in on, too, if he'd stayed for dinner?"

"Sorry, Sammy. Cas just can't keep his hands off me." Dean teases. "He can be really inappropriate sometimes."

"Dean." Castiel admonishes, his eyes narrowing at Dean, before he turns toward Sam. "Of course not, Sam. We would never want to embarrass you in front of your friend."

Sam smiles at Cas's obvious discomfort and grabs a dish towel off the counter and dries his hands. "I know. I was just kidding." Dean watches Sam give Cas a quick, one-armed, half hug as he passes behind the man on his way to the table. Cas's hands are full with serving bowls of millet and salad, so he is unable to reciprocate, but Dean watches him smile at Sam's show of affection. Dean can tell his brother's in a particularly good mood and he wonders how Gavin could possibly have that effect on anyone. "Hey, guys, the next time Gavin's over, could we maybe get takeout for dinner? They eat mostly restaurant food at his house and he's the most comfortable when he can order off a menu."

Dean meets Cas's eye behind Sam's back and gives him a see, what did I tell you look.

"Of course, we can, Sam." Dean feels validated watching Castiel hold back a smirk of his own. "The next time he's over, you two can choose a restaurant for us to order from."

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Dean feels like an ass. An awkward, uncomfortable ass. He takes in his reflection in the bathroom mirror and tugs at his tie, trying to loosen it and straighten it out at the same time. He can't remember the last time he had to wear a dress shirt and a tie, probably his grandmother's funeral when he was six. He doesn't remember her very well from the one or two times a year they stopped by to visit her, just has a faint memory of being hugged by an older woman and the smell of cookies baking, but he can still remember sitting through the service next to his dad, feeling like his clothes were made of stiff cardboard that chafed every time he moved. They hadn't had any kind of service for his dad, so he had at least been spared this indignity during his grief.

He still feels like he's overdressed for an interview for a warehouse job, but Cas has convinced him that too much was better than too little, and since Cas has interviewed for positions beyond the minimum wage jobs that Dean has always held, Dean is trusting his advice. He's never been this nervous about a job interview before, which feels odd considering this is among the least desperate for money he's ever been in his life. He can remember interviewing for his first job at fifteen at a fast food restaurant, lying about being sixteen. But, even knowing he needed to get hired to be able to reliably take care of himself and Sam when his dad was on the road and the money he left behind ran out, Dean hadn't felt this level of anxiety before his interview. He figures it's because no one had known he was applying back then. He hadn't even told Sam until after he had gotten the job. But this time around, his college educated, accountant boyfriend and honor student brother know what he's doing, and ridiculously, this feels like even higher stakes than being able to feed his eleven year old brother. He can't imagine how much shame he'll feel if he doesn't get this job, if he needs to explain to Cas and Sam that he isn't good enough for an entry-level job in a warehouse. Just thinking about it makes him feel sick to his stomach. He isn't sure how he could cope with that kind of humiliation. He really hopes he doesn't have to.

He thinks about the night he first met Cas. How his dad had been on the road and hadn't answered his phone in a week and a half, and Dean had been walking around with a pit in his gut and low-grade shock after three days, the longest the man had ever gone without contact, convinced that his dad wasn't coming back this time. That his job as a bounty hunter had finally caught up with him and he'd been killed by the fugitive he was currently tracking. How rent had been due, and Dean had been four-hundred dollars short to cover it, with no clue that his dad would return in three days time with a gunshot wound in his shoulder and a crazy story about how he got it. How Dean had headed out to meet a man he'd met online with the intention of parlaying his looks and youth into real money for the first time in his life. He can still remember his heart hammering in his chest as he walked into the diner, unsure if he would be able to go through with it, recognizing the man at the farthest booth from his picture and forcing himself to head resolutely toward him before he let himself back out. The man hadn't looked especially threatening, if anything he wasn't as old as Dean had expected and he was considerably more attractive. But when the man had looked up from his cup of coffee and made eye contact with Dean, a small smile on his lips, Dean's confidence had plunged and his anxiety had spiked. Before he realized what he was doing, Dean had ducked into the closest booth.

He can still remember sitting there, and the moment when he realized he wasn't alone and had looked up into blue eyes gone wide and a mouth open slightly in surprise. He knew he'd looked good, had taken extra time and care with his hair and clothes before leaving the apartment, not wanting to give the guy from the internet any reason to back out of their arrangement, and for a moment his brain had gone straight to trying to charm this man across the table from him. He hadn't realized how distraught he must have looked until the man spoke, his voice deep and gravelly, but his eyes among the kindest and most earnest Dean had seen in all his twenty years, are you all right? Do you need help? Dean had watched the man from the internet rise from his booth and walk purposely toward them, and Dean had gone with more honesty than he usually trusted himself to divulge to a stranger, I'm supposed to leave here with the guy who's headed this way, but I don't want to. Can you just….pretend we're here together? Please. Castiel had cocked his head to one side endearingly, his brow furrowing in confusion, we are here together. Dean had huffed out a surprised laugh. The man from the internet had stopped next to their table, Clint? Is that you? Dean had gone for casual, sorry, man, you got the wrong guy, but he hadn't fooled anyone. The guy had let out an annoyed sigh and given him an unimpressed look. I drove all the way out here for this, kid. Thanks for wasting my time. It's a little more valuable than yours in case you couldn't tell. The man had looked at Castiel then, before turning back toward Dean. That's why I could afford to buy your ass to begin with. The man had walked out of the diner, leaving Dean feeling like a whore for what he had planned on doing and a jackass for what he had done instead.

Dean had thought he would drown in shame and had planned to bolt from the diner as soon as the internet guy had pulled out of the parking lot. But when Castiel had asked him if he was ok, he hadn't detected any judgement or pity, only sincere concern, and again, he had answered honestly, assessing how he felt sitting across from this kind, earnest, handsome man, who was so obviously way out of Dean's league, right now, I think I might be. Castiel had insisted on buying Dean a burger and fries, under the guise that Dean would be doing him a favor by dining with him because he ate most of his meals alone and would enjoy the company. When Castiel told Dean about his past experience with homelessness, Dean had figured Castiel for a do-gooder, maybe even a religious missionary, he looked the type, who just wanted to make sure Dean was fed and had a place to go home to. But, then Dean had found himself opening up to Castiel about his situation, being honest about the details of his life in a way he couldn't remember ever doing with anyone outside his family. Castiel had offered him a ride home and by the time they had pulled up outside the apartment, Dean was already dreading having to get out of the car, his heart hurting at the thought of never again having that warm smile or those sympathetic eyes aimed his way. Then Castiel was telling him how much he enjoyed his company and respectfully asking if he could see him again, and Dean's heart was doing a happy dance in his chest, as what he expected to be one of the most humiliating nights of his life turned into something hopeful.

Dean's knows that his plans on the night they met weigh more heavily on him than they do on Cas, who has never treated him with anything other than kindness and respect, who waited for Dean to initiate their first kiss, first fuck, first everything. He can still remember Cas reprimanding Sam after his meltdown for saying that Castiel paid Dean for sex and what that statement inaccurately implied about Dean. But sometimes Dean finds it difficult to shake the memory of being willing to fuck a stranger for money and what that says about him, even if he didn't do through with it. He knows it's probably stupid, but he feels that getting this job, one that pays four dollars an hour over minimum wage, more than he's ever made before, will help him move one step further away from the desperation he had felt that night and that much closer to feeling worthy of Cas and Sam's respect. He adjusts his tie and straightens his shirt collar one last time, grateful that his interview is on a weekday and that Cas and Sam aren't around to see him so freaked out about everything. He sighs at his reflection before grabbing his keys and heading out.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

They watch the ball arc high into the air and contact the left edge of the backboard, ricocheting off at an awkward angle. Sam takes a couple of steps to grab it after one bounce and turns back toward Castiel.

"Hey, you're getting better!" Dean tells his boyfriend, who looks adorable in his grey sweatpants and maroon hoodie, a small frown on his thoughtful face.

"I told you I wouldn't be very good at this." Cas says, his expression apologetic.

Sam walks the ball over to Castiel. "It's ok, Cas." Sam tells him. "No one's good at it the first time they do it. And Dean's right, you're already getting better." Castiel looks dubious, but doesn't argue, and Sam grins at him. "I'm serious. The arc on that shot was nice. I could tell you used a much gentler touch that time. Your release was a lot smoother." Sam holds the ball up, positioned in front of his forehead, with his right hand supporting the ball and his left at the side to guide it's release. "You just need to make sure your right hand is lined up with your target and follow through toward the hoop. Extend your arm toward the target, like this."

Sam bends his knees slightly then extends upward, pushing the ball out of his hands. Dean watches its flight with pride as it arcs toward the hoop, then bypasses the backboard and rim and falls through the net with a soft swishing sound. Dean grabs the ball and bounce-passes it back to Sam. He's mostly hanging back to the side of the hoop, passing the ball back to Sam, and letting his brother have this moment with Cas. Dean could probably count on one hand how many times his dad had taken this kind of interest in something Sam cared about, and Dean is enjoying watching his little brother enthusiastically soak up Castiel's attention.

"Maybe I should stop for today?" Cas ventures tentatively.

"C'mon, Cas." Sam coaxes good naturedly. "You can't stop now. I feel like we're making real progress here."

"It's very nice of you to want to teach me, but I'm not very good, and I think you and Dean might have more fun playing without me." Castiel doesn't look sad exactly, but his expression is just that side of his usual neutral look. "I don't want to hold you back if you want to practice, Sam."

"You're not holding me back from anything, Cas." Sam says. "It doesn't matter if you aren't good yet. You're still learning. And, I want to hang out with you way more than I want to practice tonight." Dean feels another swell of pride toward his brother that has nothing to do with the kid's basketball skills.

Dean watches Cas smile warmly at Sam. Then, Sam holds the ball out to Cas on the palm of one hand and Cas's expression changes as he gives the ball a wary look.

Dean laughs. "C'mon, Cas. It's not going to bite you."

Cas smiles sheepishly and takes the ball from Sam.

"You'll get better, Cas." Sam says as Castiel bounces the ball twice in front of him before raising it to line up his next shot. "And, don't worry. I sucked when I first started, too."

Dean is about to interject, and jokingly scold Sam, when he sees the bright grin on the kid's face being matched by one on Castiel's, his boyfriend turning toward his brother with one of the rare open grins that show his upper gums, the grin that tells Dean that Cas is truly happy. Dean keeps his mouth shut and watches Cas turn back toward the ball in his hands, line up his shot and shoot. Dean doesn't take his eyes off his boyfriend and his brother, but he hears the ball contact the backboard and drop gently through the net. Dean watches Cas grin while Sam whoops excitedly and claps Cas on the back.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

They're lying in bed, with Dean, as usual, being the cuddled little spoon, Cas's arm folded snugly around his middle, his back against the warmth of Castiel's chest.

"Hey, Cas." Dean starts hesitantly. He isn't sure he should bring this up, but he feels like the memory won't stop running through his mind unless he talks to Cas and gets it out. "You know what I've been thinking about today?"

Dean can feel Cas's nose moving against the back of his hair as the man shakes his head behind him. "No, what were you thinking, sweetheart?"

"About the night we met. In the diner." Dean says. "Do you ever think about that night?"

Cas is quiet for a beat. "Of course I do. That night changed my life for the better in ways I never could have dreamed of." Castiel's voice is sincere in a way that goes straight to Dean's insides. He knows that his boyfriend is telling the truth, that the man doesn't lie, but it's still so difficult for Dean to believe. "I will always be grateful that this beautiful, mysterious man chose my booth to hide in."

"Have I ever told you how thankful I am that you never held it against me? What I was going to do, I mean." Dean shifts against the bed, pressing himself back against his boyfriend, closing any gaps between Castiel's body and his own. Cas uses the arm around Dean's waist to help pull Dean flush against his body, and Dean feels his ass settle comfortably into the fold of Cas's body, resting on the other man's thighs. "You were so good to me that night. And every day since. You've always treated me with respect. And, I want you to know how much I appreciate that."

Castiel is silent for a moment and Dean wishes he could see Cas's face, despite knowing that he waited until now to have this conversation for a reason. Dean regrets starting this, but it's been on his mind all day and he just wants Cas to understand how much he appreciates him. He knows he can't give Castiel as much as the man gives him, but he can at least give him his gratitude.

"Dean." Cas's voice is slow and careful, and Dean can feel the warmth of his breath on the back of his neck. "I treat you with respect because you are worthy of respect. If you had gone through with your plan that evening, you would still be worthy of respect and I would still treat you as such." Dean thinks about what the investigator told Cas about Balthazar's arrests for prositution, and he wonders if Cas is thinking about the same thing. Dean wonders if he would have turned down that path again, with greater resolve, to support himself and Sam, when their dad died if it hadn't been for Cas stepping in and saving them. He knows he would have gone through with it at that point if it had meant he could afford to keep Sam with him.

"Lots of guys would have tried to take me home and fuck me that night." Dean had only had a handful of sex partners before Castiel, four of whom were male, and none of whom had ever treated his body with anywhere near the kind of reverance that Cas uses with even the smallest gestures. A memory flashes through Dean's mind, of being exhausted on all fours in the back of the Impala, his head resting on his forearms, while Cas gently and lovingly cleaned his ass with a damp cloth after sex. "You didn't touch me once. You didn't even try."

"It was clear to me that sex wasn't what you needed that night." Cas says. "Your distress was obvious. I felt that the best way I could offer you comfort was by talking with you and listening to you."

Cas's earnest choice of words, the best way I could offer you comfort, has a belly-warming effect on Dean and he thinks about how seriously Cas takes his responsibility toward him and how much comfort Cas had given him that night in the diner. "You did. You were…..so kind to me, Cas. I walked into that diner feeling lower than I'd ever felt, and you…..you made me feel like my life wasn't hopeless. Like I could matter for something other than following my dad's orders or taking care of Sammy."

"I'm glad to know that I was of service to you that night." Castiel says. "You matter for so many reasons. To me. To your brother. And, you are still so young. You will go on to matter to so many more people in this world, Dean."

"I was in love with you before I got up from that booth." Dean says, his voice thick with emotion.

"I became quite fond of you that night, too." Cas says. "I never imagined that you would be interested in me for more than just that one conversation when you were, as you say, feeling low, and so in need of companionship that you would accept it from a stranger. I never expected to be blessed with you, and then Sam, in my life like this."

"I am so grateful, Cas, for the life you've given me and Sam." Dean says. "For the love and kindness you give both of us every day. I want you to know that. I hope I tell you that enough."

"Dean, I want you to listen to me carefully and really hear me." Castiel's voice is firm, but still lovingly gentle, and Dean marvels at how it can be both at once. "We are building this life together. You and I. I love you with all my heart and I cherish having you in my life. I haven't given you, or Sam, anything more than what you've both given me. Nothing would please me more than having you believe what I'm telling you." Castiel pauses, and Dean wonders if he's supposed to respond, but he isn't sure what to say. "Do you, Dean, believe that what I'm telling you is true?"

Dean considers responding with a yes, Cas, because he does want to please Castiel, so much, but he decides to go with honesty, knowing that's what Cas really wants from him.

"I'm trying, Cas."

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

"Sam, have you given any thought to where you'd like to go to college?" Castiel asks, his voice soft. It's Sunday night and they're all in the living room, Dean stretched out on his side on the couch, his feet in Cas's lap and Sam sitting in the armchair with his ankles crossed in front of him. They've just finished watching some teenager movie that Sam picked about a group of kids spending their last summer together before leaving for college. Dean had nodded off multiple times during the movie, and just woke up from his most recent nap when the background music changed as the credits started to roll. He feels a little foggy, in that just woke up headspace, but he keeps his eyes closed, his face turned into the couch cushion. He's assuming the movie is what inspired the college conversation, and he doesn't want any part of it. The idea of Sammy heading off to college and putting Lebanon, and Dean, in his rearview mirror is something that Dean doesn't let himself think about often because it leaves him with a bone-deep ache at the impending loss.

"A little, I guess." Sam matches Castiel's low voice and Dean realizes they believe he's still asleep. "I've kind of always wanted to go to school somewhere in California, like maybe UCLA or Stanford, or something." Great, Dean thinks. Sammy doesn't just want out of Lebanon, but the whole state of Kansas, the entire midwest. He wonders why Sam's never mentioned California to him, and he wonders if there's anything else he'll learn about his brother while the kid thinks he can't hear him.

Dean can picture Castiel's expression, the lovingly thoughtful one the guy wears when he listens carefully to someone he loves. "Those are both excellent schools." Cas tells him. "May I ask what it is about California that attracts you?"

"I don't know." Sam says. "It's some place I've never been. I mean, we traveled around a lot with my dad, but I never got to go to California. And, it seems like a cool place, from tv and everything, with warm weather and beaches and palm trees." Listening to Sam whispering about his hopes for the future stirs nostalgia in Dean, taking him back to so many bedrooms that he shared with Sammy over the years, in motels or apartments, and all those nights years ago when Dean would lie awake in the dark listening to Sam planning out his life, talking about going to college, maybe becoming a lawyer or a doctor and having a home of his own with a basketball hoop and a pool in the backyard. He wonders when Sam had stopped telling him about his dreams, and how he had never noticed. "But, it also just seemed away enough, I guess." Something in Dean hurts at knowing he and his dad were the things that Sam wanted to get away from so badly. He supposes that's why Sam never told him about California.

"And getting away is something that's important to you?" Castiel asks.

"I always thought so." Sam says. "I think it used to be pretty important to me to get away from my dad." Sam pauses. "That sounded really bad. I didn't mean it like that. I loved my dad, Cas. I still love him."

"I know you do, Sam." Cas assures him.

"But, I just didn't like how we lived. I mean, I had Dean and he was always really great. I get how lucky I was to have him. But, traveling around as much as we did was hard. So, was having my dad gone so much. And, having him not being all that interested in my school and other stuff that was important to me when he was around. And, I just wanted to get away from…...how things were with us, I guess. From all of it. I wanted to feel normal, and be normal. And, for whatever reason, I started thinking California was where I could do that. It's probably not a good reason to want to go to school out of state, and I know both those schools are really expensive, I didn't really get that when I was younger, but it's what I always thought about, I guess, for college."

"You don't need to disregard those schools if they're your top choices." Dean has the out of character urge to tell Cas to shut the fuck up. Dean is fine with letting Sam forget that out of state schools even exist. "You have excellent grades. You may find that you'll qualify for scholarships and financial aid. And Dean and I will help you with school costs as much as we can."

"Thanks, Cas." Sam says. "I really appreciate that, but I don't want to be a burden on you guys. I'll probably just end up going somewhere local so that it's cheap enough that I can take out loans to cover in-state tuition."

"Samuel." Cas's voice is stern and Dean already knows what his boyfriend is going to say to Sam. He's been on the receiving end of too many of Castiel's reprimands for putting himself down not to be. "I would like you to listen to me carefully. You are not a burden. Not to me and not to Dean. We love you too much to ever think of you like that. I don't want to hear you refer to yourself that way again. Am I making myself clear?"

"Yes, Cas." Sam says.

"Where you go to college is your decision, and you are correct that going to school in-state is another perfectly fine option if you decide you would prefer that to a California school. But wherever you end up going to college, please know that Dean and I will be helping you as much as we are able. We are adopting you, Samuel. You are our child, and you have every right to the same care and financial assistance from us that any other child would expect to receive from their natural parents. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"

"Yes, Cas." Dean wonders if he sounds as contrite as his brother when he says the same thing. "I understand."

"Be sure you do, sweet boy." Dean can hear the playfulness in Cas's voice, belying the sternness of his words. Dean is so grateful for how Cas and Sam's relationship has evolved over the past few months, how truly like a family they all seem now. "I do not wish to have to repeat myself."

Dean hears Sam laugh softly. "Yes, Cas. You won't have to." Dean starts to stir and is about to pantomime the process of waking up when he hears Sam's voice again and stills his body. "And, just so you know….I'm not sure I want to go to a California school anymore."

"Is that so?" Dean can picture Cas's head tilted to one side, the curiosity clear on his face as he tries to understand Sam

"Yeah. I think maybe getting away isn't such a big thing for me anymore." Sam pauses. "It's kind of cool having a home here, and knowing where my family is going to be living even after I leave for college. That wasn't something I really had before, with my dad. We moved around so much. But, now that I have that…...I don't know if I want to have to get on a plane every time I want to see you guys. I don't know. I guess I used to see California as a good kind of away, but now it seems really far…...maybe even too far."

Dean can feel the smile forming on his face and does his best to hold it back. When he feels that failing him, he turns his face further into the couch cushion to hide it. He hears Sam and Cas laugh, the sound at normal volume instead of the lowered voices they had been using up until now.

"Um, we know you're awake, Dean." Sam says. "Give it up. You're not fooling anyone." Dean feels Cas's hand move from his ankle and gently pat the sole of his foot. Dean allows himself to grin broadly, but keeps his eyes closed. He feels a throw pillow collide with his shoulder and face and fall to the floor. He's pretty sure Cas gives Sam a disapproving look for throwing it when he hears Sam laugh through a "Sorry, Cas."

Dean takes his time yawning theatrically and stretching his arms up over his head. He makes a show of rubbing his eyes with his fists before focusing on his brother and boyfriend with a shit eating grin on his face. "What's going on fellas? Is the movie over?"

Cas is smiling at him indulgently and Sam rolls his eyes with exaggerated annoyance.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

"We have one more present for you before you run off, Sammy." Dean says.

Sam puts his fork down on his empty cake plate and wipes his mouth with a napkin, still feeling flattered that Dean and Castiel had made him a homemade birthday cake. Castiel had even drawn a basketball on the top in orange and black icing and written happy birthday, Sam on it. It's something Sam would have expected to find embarrassingly childish, but no one had ever done anything like that for him when he was an actual child, and it just felt kind of nice. It's not that Dean didn't do stuff for Sam's birthday, but it was more like picking up cupcakes or slices of cake at the grocery store. This had felt extra special.

"I'm not running off anywhere." Sam tells him as he refolds the wrapping paper from the gifts he has already opened, a new hoodie, a sweater, and a few books he had wanted. "I was thinking maybe we could go out and play a game of horse or just shoot around after dinner."

"Sounds good to me." Dean says.

Sam turns his head to include Cas. "You'll come out, too, right, Cas?"

"Well, I guess I can't say no to you on your birthday, can I Sam?" Cas says, giving Sam a fond smile. Sam knows it isn't likely that Cas would say no to him even if it wasn't his birthday. Sam isn't sure Cas will ever enjoy basketball as much as he or Dean does, but he knows the man likes spending time with him and learning about something that he's interested in. And, Sam loves the warm smile that he always gets from Castiel whenever he includes him in something like this. It's overwhelming and humbling to Sam how happy he's capable of making someone who's only really been in his life for a few months.

"Nope, that would not be at all appropriate, Cas." Sam laughs at his own use of one of Castiel's favorite adjectives.

"Do you wish to have your last present, or would you prefer to keep mocking me instead?" Cas asks, his voice playful, a small smile on his face.

"I'm pretty sure I can manage both at once." Sam teases.

"All right, Sammy." Dean pushes his own plate of cake crumbs away from him and leans forward with his forearms on the table. "We have one more thing for you, but it's not really a gift you can open. It's more like something we want to help you do."

"Uh, ok." Sam is curious. "What is it?"

"Actually, I'm going to let Cas tell you about it since it was his idea." Sam turns toward Cas expectantly.

"Sam, Dean and I would like to help you purchase a car." Sam can feel the grin stretching across his face, but he knows better than to interrupt Cas so he listens as patiently as he can. "What we would like to do is match whatever you're able to save toward a car from working this summer. For example, if you are able to save a thousand dollars, we will contribute another thousand. And if you are able to save more than that, we'll contribute whatever amount you have saved. The only stipulations are that you don't start working until school is out for the summer so that you don't take valuable time away from your studies, that you make a commitment to volunteer somewhere this summer as well, and that we approve the car prior to purchase. We want to help you buy a car, but we also think you will benefit from working to achieve this goal for yourself, and this arrangement allows for both. Does this sound agreeable to you, Sam?"

It sounds very agreeable. It's more than Sam had hoped for and much more than he ever would have dared to ask for or even hint at. He remembers Cas telling him that he can expect all the same support from Dean and Cas that any other kid can expect from his parents, but it still feels incredible that Cas is willing to spend his money on a car for Sam, even half a car, because no matter what Cas says, he isn't Sam's dad and this just feels so overwhelmingly kind and generous.

"Yeah, definitely." Sam grins. "It sounds very agreeable, and very generous of you guys. I really appreciate this." Sam gets to his feet, and watches his brother and Castiel do the same. His instinct to go to Cas first surprises him and he forces himself to go in Dean's direction and hug his brother first instead. Dean had said that helping with the car was Cas's idea and Sam understands that Cas will probably pay for more of it than Dean, but Dean is the reason Sam has good things, including Cas, in his life to begin with. Dean pulls him in and holds him tight and Sam can feel himself getting a little choked up with emotion. "Thank you, Dean. This has been such a great birthday. Thank you for everything you do for me."

Sam feels Dean press a kiss into the side of his head.

"Thanks for being born, Sammy." Dean says. "I can't imagine what my life would have been like without you." Dean sounds surprisingly emotional, too. Sam hears Dean sniff as his brother slowly releases him. "All right, go give Cas a turn."

Sam smiles and walks over to Cas, wrapping his arms around the man and thinking about a time in the not so distant past when he still needed to be prompted to thank Cas and when hugging his brother's boyfriend had seemed completely outside his comfort zone. "Thank you, Cas." Sam says as he pulls back from the hug. "I love my presents. And my cake. This has been such a good day. I want you to know that."

"I'm happy you had a good birthday, sweet boy." And Cas does look happy, and it makes Sam even happier to see it.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

"Hey, Sam!" Sam stops to wait as Gavin jogs up behind him in the hallway at school.

"Hey, what's up?" Sam asks.

"I wanted to catch you before last period." Gavin grins at him. "I'm ready to cash in my favor. Can you do it today after school?"

"Yeah, definitely." Sam tells him. "Is there anything I need to know?"

"We'll go over the plan on the drive over. Meet in the parking lot after the last bell?" Gavin asks.

"Ok, sounds good." Sam says.

"Great, see you later."

Sam watches Gavin stroll down the hall as the bell rings. Sam hurries in the other direction and ducks into his own class late, offering the teacher a small, apologetic smile as he takes his seat. He's relieved that his debt to Gavin won't be hanging over his head for long, but he also feels a sense of apprehension about what it might entail and whether he'll be able to deliver what Gavin wants. Sam sighs, opens his notebook to take notes, and tries to quell his curiosity and to focus on class. At least it's already last period. He supposes his questions will be answered soon enough.

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

"Yes. Yes, I understand. I will be right there." Castiel hangs up his cellphone and sits in shock for a beat at his desk before quickly closing his laptop without powering down and shoves it into his briefcase.

"Castiel." Anna calls over, concern clear in her voice. "Is everything ok?"

"I don't know." Cas stands up with his briefcase in hand. "Sam is at the police station." He pulls his coat down from the hook hanging over the edge of his cubicle and starts walking past Anna's desk. "I need to go get him. Can you please let Naomi know that I had to leave for a family emergency when she gets out of her meeting?"

"Of course, Castiel." Anna tells him. "I hope everything's ok."